The 501Y.V2 SARS-CoV-2 variant has an intermediate viral load between the 501Y.V1 and the historical variants in nasopharyngeal samples from newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients

The 501Y.V2 and the 501Y.V1 SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged and spread rapidly into the world. We analysed the viral load of 643 nasopharyngeal samples of COVID-19 patients at diagnosis and found that the 501Y.V1 and the 501Y.V2 variants presented a viral load three to ten times and two times higher than the historical variants, respectively. Highlights ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement No funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The CNIL (National Commission for Informatics and Freedoms) has authorized APHP (Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris) to implement an automated processing of personal data to setting up the health data warehouse (EDS). This authorization allow the possibility of using the EDS to conduct non-interventional research on data in a scope beyond the care team, for which the use was already covered by a normal declaration. In APHP, all patients have been informed at their entrance by doctors that theirs data could be used for researche purposes except if they do not give their consent. This information is also reminding in the result report given to the patient. CNIL referent for AP-Sorbonne univiersity : Patrick Lefebvre All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes all the data in this manuscript are available. The data are presented on an excel format. Contact to obtaine data: elisa.teyssou{at}aphp.fr